Seed-planter



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

v 0. s. LOOKE SEED PLANTEIL No. 317,810. Patented May 12, 1885.

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-In Ire 222 1 (No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 2.

G. S. LOOKE.

SEED PLA'NTER.

No. 317,810. Patented May 12 1885.

N. FETERS malkhogrlphcr. Washington. D.C.

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CHARLES S. LOOKE, OF JOLIET, ILLINOIS.

SEED-PLANTER.

$PECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 317,810, dated May 12, 1885.

Application filed June 19, 1894. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES S. LOOKE, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Joliet, in the county of WVill and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Seed-Planters, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a top plan view; Fig. 2, a vertical cross-sectional view of Fig. 1 on line 2, looking in the direction of the arrow, showing a side elevation of one of the planting-sections; Fig. 3, a central vertical sectional view through one of the seed-boxes and its dropping mechanism; Fig. 4, a side elevation of that part of the machine called the check-rower, Fig. 5, a plan view on the top of the stationary pocketed disk :0, covered by a portion of the oscillating eccentrically-slotted disk a, a portion of the same being broken away to show the disk 00 below; Fig. 6, a horizontal sectional view of Fig. 4 on line 3, looking downward; Fig. 7, a plan view on the top of one of the traveling wheels and part of the main frame, showing a cam-channel in the hub for converting the machine into a drill; Fig. 8, a horizontal sectional view of Fig. 3 on line 5, looking downward, showing a plan View on the top of the pawl-andratchet mechanism for rotating the rotating perforated disk z; Fig. 9, a bottom view of the flange 1,0 of disk z, showing the lugs z, that operate the seed-valve in the throat H; Fig. 10, a cross-sectional view of the revolving seed-cap 5 in the bottom of the seed-hoppers B; Fig. 11, a cross-sectional view of one of the seed-covering shoes to show its form; and Fig. 12,a side view of the oscillating double bell-crank k, of which Fig. 6 is a top view.

This invention relates to certain improvements inseed-planters, which improvements are fully set forth and described in the following specification and claims.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the mainframe of the machine, supported by a pair of traveling wheels, to w, and intended to be drawn by a tongue, T, in the direction of the arrow 1.

Looking at Fig. 1, the machine is shown as having a train of three seed-hoppers, B, all of which are set in an independent frame, A, that is hinged at their front end by the rods and 1,) which also rotates with it.

they'are all constructed alike a'description of one will answer for all. Anynumber of these seed-hoppers and their dropping mechanisms that are practicable'may be attached to the frame A, as is shown in Fig. 1, so that the machine may be made capable of planting several rows at a time.

The shoe V is pivoted at its front end to the rod 8*, and supports at its rear end the throat H, upon the top of which is located the seedhopper B, and underneath the seed-hopper the dropping devices, which I will now describe.

The hopper B is supported on the frame A by the legs 6 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Its

bottom contracts to a circular opening, as

shown in Fig. 1, and supports the stationary pocketed disk as, which is firmly attached to the hopper B. This disk as is provided with a row of radial slots, as shown in Fig. 5, each of which is provided with a slide, a, having a pin, of, on its upper surface to pass up through the eccentric slots of the concentric plate a, which lies on the top of disk on, and

surrounds the neck of the seed-hopper that supports the disk :0. When plate a is oscillated for a short distance either way, it will slide the slides a in or out from toward a common center for the purpose of increasing or diminishing the holding capacity of the seedpockets in disk 00 at the inner end of said slides, thus furnishing a very effective and easy mode of regulating the capacity of the pockets in said disk for holding more or less seed.

Immediately below the stationary disk as is a rotating disk, .2, formed wit-h the neck 11 and ratchet-flange 10, having the ratchet-teeth 0, as shown in Fig. 3. The bolt 6 is the axis upon which it is firmly secured, and which retates with it. i This bolt has attached to its upper end the cap-plate 5, (shown in Figs. 3 This plate or disk 2 is provided with but one opening or dischargeport, corresponding with the seedpockets in disk 00, which opening comes directly underneath these pockets, so when it rotates all of said pockets will in turn discharge their contents through said opening as it comes under them. This opening in disk 2 is furnished with the spout m as shown in Fig. 3, to conduct the seed into the throat H properly.

Rotation is given disk z, bolt 6 and capplate 5 by means of the pawls 1 and 2. (Shown in Figs. 1 and 8.) These pawls lie with their outer ends on the upper surface of flange 10 of disk 2, which flange is provided with a row of radial ratchet-teeth on its upper surface. (Shown at 0, Fig. 8, and also in Fig. 3.) These pawls are caused to reciprocate by means of their inner ends being pivoted to the arm L. Pawl 1 has a hook at its outer end to drop over behind a ratchet-tooth when reciprocated forward. When it moves backward, it will rotate disk .2 as far as it moves. Pawl 2 is square on its outer end, and when reciprocated forward will push against a ratchet-tooth, 0, and rotate the disk z as far as it moves, so that said disk is intermittently rotated in the same direction by these pawls as they are re ciprocated by means of arm L, which receives its motion from the shake-bar S Fig. 1. At each partial rotation of disk 2 the opening through it stops directly under a seed-pocket in stationary disk as, immediately aboveit, and the seed in said pocket is dropped down into the throat H. The throat H is provided with a seed-valve, 6, (shown in Fig. 3,) for the purpose of catching and holding the dropping seed until the lower end of the throat is at the place where the seed should be dropped. This seed-valve i. attaches to the lower end of the oscillating-arm i which pivots about onethird the way down from its upper end into the sides of the throat. This arm i is oscillated to open and close the lower end of the throat H by means of the engagement of its upper end with the lugs z on the under side of flange 10 of plate or disk .2. Fig. 9 shows the bottom of said flange having these lugs z, and Fig. 3 shows the manner in which said lugsoperate to oscillate said arm 1*, as shown byfthedotted lines in said figure.

. e'isthe covering-plate for covering the seed after it is dropped. This covering-plate attaches to the machine by means of the forked beam K,which forks over the'throatH, and is pivoted to its sides, and also pi'vots at its outer.

ends,which converge to come together, to the vertical-toothed rack V, asshown in Fig. 2. This toothed rack passes up through an opening in the cross-bar 0, and a spring, V", at its back presses it forward to causeits teeth to catch in said crossbar. It is obvious that by elevating or lowering this Vertical rack the covering-shoe c at the opposite end of thebeam K may be caused to press as much or little on the row it is covering as maybe desired to suit the condition of the earth orthe character of the seed being covered. A. covering-wheel may be used in the place of this shoe, if desired, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 2.v

The shoe c may be tilted, so as to throw its heel up or down as much as desired, to suit the condition of the earth or the character of the seed being planted, by means of the perforated segment 0 and bolt 0'. The covering-shoe c is formed in cross-section, as shown in Fig. 11, as such shape is less liable to clog than any other, and the corrugated form in cross-section gives it great strength for pressure on the ground.

The frames A may be elevated off the ground by means of the rolling-shaft r, Fig. 1, having integral arms r reaching under the seed-hoppers and rear end of frame A, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The lever D, firmly attached to said shaft 1*, furnishes means for rotating it partially to elevate the seed-hoppers, as stated, and the segment D and springcatch on arm D furnish means for holding said arm at any desired place to raise said seedhoppers at any desired height within certain limits. The object of thus elevating the seedhoppers and shoes V, as stated, is to hold the shoes off the ground when the machine is not in operation or in traveling on the road from field to field. The springs 91 attached to the under side of the arms 4" (shown in Fig. 2) are for the purpose of holding the covering-shoes and dropping parts down to their work. This may be accomplished by the operator by means of bearing down on the lever D.

The part of the machine that actuates the seeddropping parts by means of a check-row wire, and commonly called the check-rower, is shown in Fig. 4, and also shown attached to the extreme outer ends of the machine in Fig. l at F, and consists of the post P, having a horizontal flange at its foot, for attachment to the frame A, as shown in said Fig. 1, to a slotted bracket, so it can be adjusted either forward or backward. Across the top of said post is the head F, provided with the usual guide-sheaves, g g g, and hook g for holding in the knotted wire 10'. Toward the lower end of post P the two oscillating arms P and P are pivoted to the outer end of the arm 1?, one on either side. To the upper end of these oscillating arms are pivoted the forks m and in which are in the form of a bell-crank.

The sides of the head F are channeled or recessed, so as to leave a project-ing wall or flange all around the outer edge. Through the center of these recesses is formed a partition,

. 7, Fig. 4, which partition does not quite extend across at one end, and is formed into a latchswitch, 8, at the other end, as shown by the dotted lines in said figure. Said partition thus forms a pair of traverse-grooves for a wrist-pin at the elbow of said bell-crank to travel in, the upper arm of said bell-crank terminating in forks m and m for the wire to to operate in. Looking at Fig. 4, a knot is just engaging with fork m It will carry it forward in the direction of the arrow as the machine travels, and when the fork reaches the other end of the head F, the wrist-pin at the elbow of bell-crank at will drop off of the partition 7 on the opposite side of said head, as both sides are alike, and fall down to be in the position of fork m. By that time fork m will be in the position of fork m ready for the next ball on the wire,so that each alternate ball will catch and carry forward the forks and thus oscillate the arms P P, which by means of the links connect with the double bellcrank it. (Shown in Fig.6.) The arm k oflever 7c is connected by means of the pitmen S (shown in Fig. 1) to the shakebar S to which the arms L are pivoted, and which operate the dropping parts by their attachment to the pawls 1 and 2, as stated.

Looking at Fig. 4, when the wrist-pin at m moves backward it will follow the channel below partition 7, and when it reaches the opposite end will slide up incline 9 and open the switch 8, forming a part of said partition, to let the wrist-pin pass up into the channel above said partition to be in the position belLerank m is shown to be in when the switch-latch 8 falls, and said wrist-pin must return in said upper channel until it drops off the end ofsaid partition 7 to be in the position of bell-crank at, so that each wrist-pin must make the circuit alternately of these channels to alternately elevate and lower the respective forks m and in", so the wire 20 can enter them, and they in turn becarried forward,as stated,drop down, and interchange with each other, for the purpose stated.

WVhen it is desired to drop seed by hand, an operator can sit on the seat S and move the shake-bar S by means of the ordinary lever, y, fulcrumed in the standard 2 as shown in Fig. 2. The draft of the machine is regulated by moving the slide T, to which the double-tree attaches, up or down the braced standard T on the under side of the pole T, and securing it, by means of a pin, through the holes in said standard and slide, as shown in Fig. 2.

When it is desired to convert the machine into a drill, the arm L that reciprocates the shake-bar S may be operated by a cam or cam-channel on one of the hubs of the traveling wheelsw, as shown in Fig. 7, which would reciprocate the shake -bar quickly either way and cause the machine to drop seed in a row instead of hills.

The rotating cap 5 within the seed-hoppers B is shown more particularly in cross-section in Fig. 10, being a section on line 4 of Fig. 3. The cap 5 is hollowed and partly cut away on its under side for the reception of the hinged plate 7 and coil spring 6 to hold said plate 7 down. Said plate 7 is pivoted or hinged at one end to said cap 5, and held down to its work by the spring 6 within the hollow of the cap 5. The front and loose end of this plate 7 is rounded, the rounded portion extending downward, so as to slightly elevate the body of said plate from the pocketed disk as below. The object of rounding the plate 7, as stated, is to prevent the cap 5 from cutting the seed as said cap rotates to brush the seed not contained in a pocket from over one of the said pockets, and away from around it should a seed lie partly in and partly out of a pocket. The rounded part of plate 7 will ride up over it and notinjureit, but permit it to be dropped with the seed in the pocket.

The check-rower F"is attached to the frame A, by means of the slotted bracket 0, forward of the throats H, the distance that two knots on the wire w are apart, and may be adjusted in said slotted bracket to accommodate itself to wires having knots at various distances apart.

By the pressure downward to the dropping mechanism by means of the spring a of bar 1*, the shoes V are each held to their work independently from each other,and are each capable of riding over obstructions or descending into hollow places without interfering with each other, and where heavy pressure is required on the shoes V to hold them down, the lever 1) may be set in the segment D, so as to entirely raise the traveling wheels off the ground, so the weight of the whole machine will rest on the shoes to forcethem as deep in the earth as maybe desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows, to wit 1. In the seed-planter described, in combination with the throat H, the oscillating lever @',having the foot-valve i pivoted therein, the rotating disk 2, having the flange 10, having the eccentric lugs e on its under side and the ratchet-teeth 0 on its upper side, and the pawls l and 2 and their operating mechanism, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In the seed-planter described, in combination with the frame A and. throat H, the beam K, pivoted to the side of said-throat, vertical toothed rack V, pivoted to the front end of said beam K, and covering-shoe 0, attached to the rear end of said beam,all adapted to operateas and for the purpose set forth.

3. In combination with the frames A and w A, the rolling-shaft 1", having the arms 1", 1ever D, and springs a, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In the seed-planter described, the combination of the stationary disk at, having the radial pocket slots shown, slides or within said radial pocket-slots, each having a pin, a and plate a, having the eccentric slots a, for the reception of the pins a for the purpose of moving said slides in or out simultaneously, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In the seed-planter described, the head F, having the horizontally-partitioned recess shown, and switch 8 on each side, as shown, and arranged to receive the wristpins on bellerank arms m m in said recess and guide them around said partition and switch to prop erly guide the forks m and m as and. for the purpose set forth.

6. The combination of the frame A, post P, double bell-crank 7r, arms P I P links it, bell-cranks m in, having the forks m and m respectively, head F, having each side recessed, and said recesses divided horizontally by partitions 7,to form a channel either side of said partition, and having the latch -switches 8,

forming a portion of said partition, sheaves g g 9 and hook 9, all adapted to operate as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In the seed-planter described, the combination of the frame A, beam K, toothed rack V, spring V, cross-bar 0 throat H, covering-shoe a, segment 0, and means for tilting said shoe on said beam, as and for the purpose set forth.

8. The combination of the frames A and A, hinged together, as shown, arm L and its operating mechanism, pawls l and 2, perforated rotating disk z,having the ratchet-teeth 0 and eccentric lugs z, stationary pocketed disk 00, having the radial slots forming seed-pockets, and slides a, and pins a", plate a, having the eccentric slots a bolt 0 rotating plate 5, shoe V, hopper B, and throat H,all adapted to 0perate as and for the purpose set forth.

9. In the seed-planter described, the head F, having the horizontally-partitioned recess and suitable guide-sheaves, as shown, in combination With the bell-crank arms m and m, forked arms m of, arms P and P, standard 1?, links k", double bell-crank k, having the adjustable coupling-plate 8, connecting-rods S", and shake-bar S", as and for the purpose set forth.

. CHARLES S. LOCKE. WVitnesses:

JAMES R. Hones, PERRY J. HOBBS. 

